Business News: Marsha Lorenz, CEO Seniors First, Talks on The Importance of the Film Leftovers

Leftovers, from Uncork’d Entertainment, presents the story of the newest face of hunger, America’s Senior Citizens, those who served when duty called, the backbone of the great manufacturing era, those who escaped tyranny for a better life.

Director Seth Hancock traveled across country looking for stand outs stories as the need is similar from the wealthiest neighborhood to the poorest, a portion of the population, Seniors, are facing hunger at astronomical numbers.

Marsha Lorenz, CEO and President of the Seniors First, an Orlando, Florida based organization became involved in the film as the topic is so overlooked and underrated in the sea of need that she helped find finishing funds to get the message out.

Lorenz, helping promote Leftovers as the film is just finding a distributor, spoke about the film and what she hopes people take away from it.

Q. Can you tell us a little about your organization and how you got involved in the production of the film Leftovers?

A. Seniors First is one of the oldest and largest non-profit social service organizations in Central Florida dedicated to serving senior citizens. We are now in our 52nd year. Simply put, we help seniors live safe, healthy lives in their own homes where they prefer to be. We offer a wide range of in home services and are also the Meals on Wheels provider for Orange County.

We got involved with the film after learning this important project was struggling due to a lack of funding. Seniors First was instrumental in securing a grant from the Central Florida Foundation that provided the necessary financing to bring the film to completion.

Q. Leftovers is an important film on the serious subject of senior hunger in America. Why do you believe people need to watch this movie?

A. You know, you hear about childhood hunger and homelessness but very few realize that one in six senior citizens in this country struggle with hunger and may not know where there next meal is coming from. One in six! Our seniors have nobody to speak for them.

Marsha Lorenz, CEO of Seniors First

We need to be their voice and this film presents the clear, unvarnished truth about what many seniors in our own neighborhoods and communities are dealing with every day. We also examine the tremendous food waste in America and explore possible solutions. Nobody living in the US should be going hungry.

Q. Can you tell us about some of the people who are interviewed in the film?

A. One of the most interesting things about this film is that it demonstrates how senior hunger affects people from all walks of life.

We talk with a client who was a Hollywood silent film actress. She lives in Marin County, one of the wealthiest areas in the country and we also visit Owsley County Kentucky, the poorest. We filmed in Detroit, Los Angeles, Orlando, Austin and San Francisco and no matter where we went, there were senior citizens struggling with hunger. This is a nationwide problem. Senior hunger exists in every community in America.

Carla Laemmle, at home in 2011, in the documentary Leftovers

Q. Does the film shock people? What has been the audience reaction?

A. Yes, absolutely I think people are shocked. The comment we hear most is “I had no idea this was such an issue.” People find the situations in the film heartbreaking and uncomfortable to watch but you know what else is uncomfortable? The fact that the people who fought our wars, built our communities and taught in our schools are going hungry is uncomfortable. Working your whole life and then feeling like you’ve been cast aside by society is uncomfortable. I don’t apologize for that. This film should make you uncomfortable. It should make you angry.

Q. What do you hope people take away from the film?

A. I hope people come away with a better understanding of how big this problem really is and a need to do something about it. I hope people pass the message and educate others; that they are motivated to volunteer and donate in their own communities so we can keep these programs going. I believe we can end senior hunger but it’s going to take courage and it’s going to take all of us pulling together.

Q. So what would you ask people to start doing today to make a difference in the lives of our senior citizens?

A. I would say start at the top. Email or call your representatives in Washington. Let them know you support our seniors and will be watching to see how they vote on funding for these programs as the 2018 federal budget moves through congress. Then take it to a local level and contact your city and county representatives.

Finally, get involved yourself. Volunteer for Meals on Wheels, donate to local organizations that support senior nutrition programs. Get your church, civic organizations and schools involved. That’s what I mean by all of us pulling together.

Q. Can you tell us where we can find out more information on your organization and the movie?

Haute Tease

Aspen Film, one of Colorado's premier non-profit film organizations and presenter of Aspen Filmfest, Aspen Shortsfest and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science Screenings, announced today the appointment of Maggie Mackay as ArtisticDirector.

Punxsutawney Phil, the Pennsylvania Groundhog who, since 1887, has become the annual predictor for winter’s end, popped his head out of his hole-in-the-ground home and promptly saw his shadow, the indicator of another six more weeks of winter, snow, cold, ice and slush, sad news for those of us who are ready for winter’s end.

A recent Bain & Company Luxury Study, indicated the global luxury market is growing at 4% with 2016 numbers topping $1.15 trillion, this coupled with optimistic forecasts of a continuation the upward trend, the hospitality industry is gearing up for elevated demand.

San Diego’s Little Italy section has morphed into a culinary craft hotspot, with exciting new restaurants pushing food and beverage boundaries like never before. Among the array of notable establishments that have cropped up is the hip hotspot Kettner Exchange.

Besides having facial hair, there are structural differences between a man’s skin and a woman’s. Androgen (testosterone) stimulation causes an increase in skin thickness, which accounts for why a man’s skin is about 25% thicker than a woman’s.

The Lobster, from A24, transports the viewer into a futuristic world, where singles face discrimination, freedom is refused, and those without mates are forced to find partners in a desperately limited society with time the enemy of all.

Shoptalk, which organizes the most important U.S. event for innovation in retail and ecommerce, today announced $2 million in venture capital funding to support the launch of Shoptalk Europe and announced the first group of expected premiere Shoptalk Europe speakers.